4 months after director died, SCI won't say who's running the watchdog agency
TRENTON − Four months after its executive director died in a car accident, the New Jersey commission designed to root out mismanagement and corruption in the state has yet to select a replacement, and it isn't clear who has been leading the agency.
A spokesperson for the State Commission of Investigation said the commission is working to fill vacancies in accordance with its authorizing statutes, but she didn't address whether an interim executive director had been named, who was actually running the watchdog agency, or provide a job posting.
As of Wednesday, neither the state government job board nor the SCI website was advertising for the position.
Founded in 1968 amid concern that New Jersey government was being influenced by the mob, SCI is an independent agency with broad power to investigate organized crime and racketeering; the conduct of public officers and public employees; and the management of state government. It can recommend reforms and improvements.
Over the years, the agency has produced more than 135 investigations that it says has resulted in millions of dollars in taxpayer savings and reforms that improved government integrity. Its investigations have included exposes on organized crime activities, a lucrative separation package to a Point Pleasant superintendent, an ill-advised rollout of EZ-Pass; and mismanagement in New Jersey's school construction program.
The commission was dealt a blow last July when Chadd W. Lackey, its first Black executive director, died when the car he was driving was struck by another driver who ran a red light in Hamilton.
Lackey, who joined the commission in 2005, directed some of its highest-profile investigations. He served as deputy director and general counsel to SCI before being named executive director in 2020.
The Asbury Park Press asked SCI a month ago who was in charge of the agency in the aftermath of Lackey's death. The newspaper never received a response and followed up with a detailed list of questions about the SCI's leadership structure this week.
Among them: Who is the interim director and what is the salary for that role? What are the requirements to become the executive director? To whom does the executive director report? And has SCI or any other agency posted a job description and conducted a job search for the position?
In response, spokeswoman Kathy Hennessy Riley said: “The Commission continues to work on filling vacancies in the agency in accordance with its authorizing statute under N.J.S.A. 52:9M-9. Information on the Commissioners and leadership can be found on our website here. The Commissioners’ salaries are set by statute at N.J.S.A. 52:9M-1.”
SCI has unique powers. It can conduct both public and private hearings, compel testimony by issuing subpoenas and can grant limited immunity from prosecution to witnesses. It is required to refer potential criminal misconduct immediately to the Attorney General.
The agency, with a budget of $5 million, is overseen by four commissioners, all attorneys, who make $35,000 a year each. They oversee a staff of professional attorneys, special investigative agents, accountants, support and administrative personnel.
The governor appoints two commissioners; the Senate president appoints one; and the Speaker of the Assembly appoints one. To ensure the commission is bipartisan, no more than two of the commissioners can be from the same political party.
The current makeup includes: Tiffany Williams Brewer, chair of the commission, and John P. Lacey, both of whom were appointed by Gov. Phil Murphy in 2022; Kevin R. Reina was appointed by Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin in 2020; and Robert J. Burzichelli was appointed by then Senate President Stephen Sweeney in 2014.
Six weeks ago, the commission named Salma Chand, previously senior counsel for the Murphy administration, as chief counsel and deputy director. It also announced the promotion of SCI Investigative Counsel Colin Keiffer, to deputy chief counsel. He joined SCI in January 2022.
A spokesperson for Murphy referred questions to SCI.
Michael L. Diamond is a business reporter at the Asbury Park Press. He has written about the New Jersey economy and health care industry since 1999. He can be reached at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Who has been running New Jersey's watchdog agency?
